COVID-19 restrictions are finally lifting which is great news for businesses across the UK! As shoppers return to the high streets, and employees return to the office, it's likely that that you'll need to take a few additional precautions to help keep everyone safe and secure. After all, coronavirus hasn't magically disappeared, so if you want your business to re-open successfully, we advise you put a few of these systems in place.

1. Crowd control

We all know that coronavirus spreads when people come into close contact with each other. If you own a business where large crowds of people tend to gather, eg. a restaurant or a shop, you may want to put a few measures in place to control the number of people in your business premises at any given time. 

Here at IDS Security, we offer a density control system that allows you to monitor the number of people in your business premises at any one time. To use our people counting system, you simply need to install our density control cameras at the entrances of your premises. All the data is sent to a user-friendly screen that you can monitor throughout the day to make sure large crowds aren't forming. 

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2. Fire alarms

Lots of business premises have been empty for a year (or two), so it's important that you check your fire alarms working before you re-open. Working in an environment without a working fire safety system in place can be disastrous, not to mention dangerous. The last thing you want is an accidental fire forcing you to close your doors or move premises, after only a few weeks of 'normal' work. 

A lot of the business owners we speak to have also had to make significant changes to the layout of their premises, this includes:

• Spacing out desks
• Re-arranging walkways
• Creating one-way systems
• Closing off communal areas

With these changes in place, business owners are advised to re-think their fire escape protocol. You need to make sure that everyone can exit the building safely and congregate in a suitable area. If you do make changes to your fire escape plan, it's important that you make sure everyone in the business is up-to-date and aware of any changes made.

If the fire alarm systems in your premises need updating, the IDS Security team are happy to help! We've created bespoke fire alarm systems for businesses across the UK and South Wales, so we can help you re-open safely.

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 3. Intruder alarms & CCTV

Crime rates fell by over 30% during the first few months of the COVID-19 lockdown. Why? Because everyone was stuck inside and businesses & pubs were closed! With fewer people on the streets, it was much easier for police to detect, prevent and respond to crimes. Now that everything is opening back up, we (sadly) predict that there will be a spike in crimes across the UK. There are a few reasons for this....

Firstly, business owners are preoccupied with re-opening and putting COVID-19 safety precautions in place, which means their business security is being neglected. Secondly, a lot of people are going out and 'making up for lost time' by getting drunk and partying, which means there's likely to be a spike in fights and drunk & disorderly behaviour. And thirdly, a lot of people lost their jobs during the pandemic. A generally poorer population tends to lead to an increase in crimes. 

So, what can you do about it? One of the best ways to protect your business is to install intruder alarms and CCTV cameras, both of which we can supply and install for you. Taking the time to improve your business security before you re-open is vital, especially as we enter the post-COVID-19 period. 

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Read More: Has the UK Crime Rate Gone Up or Down During Lockdown?

These are just a few of the precautions you can take when re-opening your business after COVID-19. With a little help from the IDS team, you can make sure your employees, visitors and premises are perfectly safe! Be sure to get in touch with us for a FREE business security survey. 

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Living in fear that your house will be burgled can cause a lot of underlying stress for homeowners, but there are steps you can take to make your home less attractive to burglars. Here at IDS Security, we specialise in putting home & business owners minds at ease by improving the security of their premises. Today we're going to walk you through some easy steps you can take to make your home less attractive to burglars, let's dive right in!

Secure your spare key

How many times have you left a spare key under the doormat, or a plant pot, or in the shed? The chances are, you've probably risked this more than once, but guess what? Burglars know that we put our keys in these places! The chances are, if someone wants to break into your house, these are the first places they'll look before they try to gain access. Why would they go to the trouble of breaking glass & creating a lot of noise, when a spare key will make it possible for them to walk straight in through the front door?

Make you home less attractive to burglars by keeping your spare key in a secure place. If a family neighbour or relative needs the key to gain access to your home, try to give it to them in person ahead of time, rather than leaving it in a vulnerable position that's attractive to burglars.

Check windows are closed

One thing that's very attractive to burglars is open windows. Much like a spare key, an open window can provide easy access to a house without the use of force. If you want to make your house less attractive to burglars, ensure that all windows are closed and locked before you leave the property. Ground floor windows are particularly vulnerable, but burglars will target second or third storey windows if they offer easy access too!

Keep gardens tidy

A wild, overgrown garden can make your home more attractive to burglars because it provides ample cover & places to hide. Bushes, long grass and leafy trees are surprisingly good places to hide if you're trying to find an access point to break into someone's home. You can help make your home less attractive to burglars by keeping your garden & outdoor area tidy. 

Freshly cut grass & trimmed, neat hedges will provide much less cover than an unruly garden! Remember, the last thing burglars want is to be caught in the act, so anything you can do to make your house a more difficult target will pay off in the long run. Keeping on top of your garden maintenance is a simple and effective way to make your home less attractive to burglars (and it'll mean you get more enjoyment from the garden too).

Better home security

With burglars becoming more sophisticated and capable of finding inventive ways to break in, it's vital that you use home security systems to provide protection for your home. Home security systems do two things. Firstly, they act as a deterrent, making your home less attractive to burglars who can see that you've got a security system in place. Secondly, they provide you with the confidence and knowledge that your home will be protected in the event that a burglary attempt actually occurs.

CCTV cameras, intruder alarms and door entry systems can all be used to make your home less attractive to burglars. CCTV cameras, in particular, are easily seen from outside your home & let criminals know that they're being watched. Having a CCTV camera system in place is one of the most effective ways to deter burglars, so if you've not got one already - we'd highly recommend it!

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If you want to protect your home with a bespoke home security system, we can help. Give us a call on 029 20 753 251 to discuss your concerns and we can help you start your journey towards a well-protected home today!

Read More: What Do Burglars Look For? Tips to Protect Your Belongings

It's normal for employees to have a set of keys to the office, but it can be a bit of a dilemma choosing the right people. Some people would argue that all employees are trusted members of staff, and should therefore be allowed a set of keys. However, you should never take keyholder responsibilities lightly. When you hand over a set of keys to your business, you really are putting your assets in the hands of someone else. Ideally, you want to choose people who are sensible, trustworthy and who actually need a set of keys.

What are the responsibilities of a keyholder?

A keyholder is someone who's been trusted for opening and closing the business on a regular basis. These people need to be capable of setting/disabling your alarm systems & keeping your business and its contents safe! In shops and restaurants where physical cash is handled, key holders might need to make sure that the cash is deposited safely and out of view from prying eyes. Being a keyholder tends to come with more responsibilities than simply opening and cosing up at the end of the day, so choosing the most appropriate people for the job is paramount! Most business owner tend to allocate keyholder responsibilities to the more senior members of staff because they know they're capable of managing the reposibilities of being a keyholder.

What happens if there's an emergency?

Keyholders are often required to respond if the intruder or fire alarm goes off ouside of business hours. It's vital that keyholders understand the procedure they need to follow if they're faced with this situation. For that reason, you might want to choose keyholders that are based locally, or that have access to their own vehicle. Someone who lives 30 miles away and commutes to work on public transport, they might not be the most reliable keyholder in an emergency.

When a keyholder attends an emergency call out, they should be capable of assessing the situation and reponding appropriately. If it looks like a break-in has occured, they should phone the emergency services immediately. Likewise if they can see obvious signs of a fire. If they attend and realise that it's a false alarm, they should be able to reset the alarms, lock up the premises and notify you or the relevant person in charge.

Key traits of a good keyholder:

• Trustworthy & reliable
• Confident under pressure
• Local to the business
• Well-organised
• Strong leadership skills

Outsourcing keyholder responsibilities

In some circumstances, it may be a better option for a business owner to outsource their keyholder duties. For example, if all of your staff live far away, or if staff turnover is high, it might not be possible to choose people to take on keyholder responsibilities. In this case, you can hire a third-party company to help with keyholder responisbilities & out of hours emergencies.

One great option is to invest in a monitored alarm system & a maintenance contract. This means that someone at a trustworthy security company will keep an eye on your alarms around the clock. If an alarm is triggered they will make sure that the appropriate emergency services are contacted right away, meaning the responsibility for the business is taken out of your employees hands. Without proper training, in-experienced staff members might put themselves in harms way in the event of an emergency, so it might put your mind at ease to know that a reliable & professional company are monitoring your premises.

• Burglar Alarm Monitoring from IDS
• Fire Alarm Monitoring from IDS

Our advice when allocating staff keyholder responsibilities is, choose carefully and don't be afraid to outsource to professionals if you're concerned about the safety and welfare of your business. Give us a call if you're interested in upgrading your business security systems, we're happy to help!

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When you're relying on a home security system to keep your property and posessions safe, you need to know it's reliable. If a problem occurs with your home security system while you're out of town, your belongings could be left vulnerable to burglars or fires. For that reason, it's vital that you understand the common problems with home security systems & how to avoid them. 

False Alarms

False alarms are one of the most common problems people encounter with their home security systems. I'm sure you've all heard of the story of the boy who cried wolf? Well, if your home security system is triggered when there's no threat multiple times, then eventually people might stop responding. Some security companies might even fine you if false alarms are triggered on a regular basis.

How to prevent false alarms

One of the easiest ways to prevent false alarms is to make sure that everyone in your household knows how to operate the alarm system. That way, if a false alarm is triggered, they should be able to disable it before it becomes an issue. In addition, you should choose an appropriate security system for your home. There's no point installing a motion sensor alarm to protect the house if you've got a dog running around while you're out! We can advise you on the best home security system for your property if you're unsure, get in touch.

Blind Spots

Another common issue with home security systems is blind spots. These are areas of the home that aren't protected by your chosen security system, usually because the system has been installed incorrectly or because the chosen equipment is not suitable. For example, if you install motion sensors with a limited range, you might find that the primeter of your house is protected but the central areas are not. The same issue can arise with CCTV cameras, if an assessment of the property isn't done prior to installation, it's likely you'll end up with blond spots that are vulnerable to attackers. 

How to prevent blind spots

Before installing your home security system, make sure you've considered all vulnerable areas thoroughly. Doors and windows are obvious entry points, but are there others that you've not considered, for example, balconies, garages or conservatories? Make a proper plan and do your research to find the most appropriate equipment to cover the areas you need. You might find you get the best protection by combining security systems like CCTV cameras and motion sensors. We offer bespoke home security systems, so we can make sure that your home is provided with the highest level of security by creating a home security system based on your home's layout. Request a quote.

Power Supply

When the power supply to your home security system fails, your house is no longer protected - which is a huge problem. Any system that's not plugged directly into the mains is usually operated by batteries, this includes some fire alarms & most wireless systems. Systems that are plugged into the mains will also fail if your home experiences a power shortage while you're away. Knowing how to keep your systems running in all scenarios is paramount if you want your home to remain protected!

How to prevent power supply problems

When it comes to battery operated systems, you really need to test and service your alarms on a regular basis. Changing batteries and fuses periodically will help ensure that your systems are running as they should be at all times. For home security systems that are connected to your mains supply, we would recommend investing in a backup power supply to ensure that your home is protected in the event of a power outage. 

If you're experiencing any of these problems with your home security system, we can help. Here at IDS Security, we have years of experience designing, installing and monitoring bespoke home security systems. We'll help you avoid common problems & keep your home protected around the clock.

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Read More: What to Look for in a Home Security System

Choosing the right intruder alarm system for your home or business is no easy task. Nowadays, there are so many different high-tech options that it can be a bit overwhelming. Don't worry, we've got a guide to show you some of the different types of intruder alarms and their key features, this should help you make an informed decision on your property's security system.

If you're looking for a bespoke home or commercial security system, complete with an intruder alarm, we can help. Get in touch with the IDS team now.

Passive Infrared (PIR) Detector 

Typically one of the most common types of intruder alarms, passive infrared detectors are mounted on walls around a property and are triggered by a change in radiant heat. A single passive infrared detector is capable of monitoring an area between 10 and 15 metres in front of it, meaning you only need to install a few of these around a single building to achieve maximum protection. 

How do passive infrared detectors work?

This type of intruder alarm has two beams that gather information about the space in front of it and splitting it into different 'planes' (up to 20 different zones). If the alarm will sense a change in radiant heat between its planes or zones, for example, if a person enters the room, the alarm will trigger. As you can imagine, an empty shop shouldn't have people walking around it at night, so these alarms are effective at detecting intruders. 

Where should I install a passive infrared detector?

As you can imagine, the passive infrared detectors we mentioned above aren't suitable for all kinds of places. If you installed a passive infrared detector in a family home, for example, you'd probably find it's triggered by the dog multiple times a day! As such, passive infrared detectors are best suited to locations that are vacant for long periods during the day/night. Commercial properties like shops and offices tend to find passive infrared detectors more effective than residential properties.

Quad Element PIR Detectors

If you're worried about false alarms, there is an advanced PIR detector that might be more reliable. On the whole, quad element PIR detectors are similar to the standard passive infrared detectors, however, there are two detectors working side by side. Both need to be triggered to set off the alarm.

How do quad element passive infrared detectors work?

Unlike a standard PIR detector, the quad element PIR detector has four beam planes working at the same time. So, an anomaly in one of the sensors shouldn't lead to a false alarm as often as it might do with a standard PIR detector. This type of intruder alarm has become a lot more popular over the last few years.

Where should I install a quad element passive infrared detector?

Since these alarm systems are more reliable and less prone to false alarms, they can be installed pretty much anywhere!

Monitored Intruder Alarms

Most intruder alarms are great for alerting people in the local area, but that doesn't always mean that someone will respond and stop the incident in its tracks. If you're looking for the best type of intruder alarm to prevent active break-ins, we'd recommend a monitored intruder alarm.

These are regular intruder alarms that are accompanied by a monitoring contract. Here, someone will monitor and respond to suspicious activity in real-time without you having to lift a finger. With this type of intruder alarm & contract, you can rest assured that the relevant emergency services will be on the scene as quickly as possible.

Read More: Burglar Alarm Monitoring from IDS Security

Where should I install a monitored intruder alarm?

Monitored intruder alarms can provide an additional layer of security in any location. Whether it's an office block, your home, or your shop. If you're looking for a simple & cost-effective type of intruder alarm, this might not be the best option for you - simply because the monitoring contract is an ongoing cost. That being said, if you're looking for the highest level of security and you're happy to pay for the additional monitoring service, then this is one of the best intruder alarm options on the market.

Here at IDS Security, we offer a number of different types of intruder alarms to suit your security needs perfectly! Our technicians will work with you to help you create a bespoke security system for your home or business. By tailoring our systems to suit you, we can offer the maximum level of security and reassurance.

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